When her tremors subsided, I had to let her go. I was seconds away from tipping her chin up and taking her mouth. I wanted her with an intensity I wasn’t used to.
No one had ever aroused me so quickly. But then again, I didn’t run into half-naked women who were soaking wet. It was an image I wouldn’t get out of my head anytime soon. I had a feeling I’d be jerking off to it in the near future.
I imagined her taking a bath in that gorgeous tub I’d installed in her suite. It was the same one my brother’s fiancée, Alice, wanted for their new house. Since Natalie was living on her own with a daughter, and opening a business, she deserved something special.
I had no idea where Delaney’s father was. Natalie hadn’t even told Alice, and they’d become fast friends since Alice opened a shop in the front room of the house.
I shouldn’t care why Natalie moved here—if she was running from something or looking for something in particular. I gave up on the idea of a committed relationship a long time ago. I’d been burned enough to know it wasn’t meant for me.
Seeing my youngest brother fall for Alice didn’t even have me questioning my vow to never get serious with another woman again. But a part of me knew that if she’d given me a sign that she was interested in more, I would have taken it. But she deserved more than a quickie when her daughter was asleep next door.
Natalie was a woman who deserved a man who’d take care of her and support her in her business but stand aside so she could blossom on her own. She didn’t need a guy who only wanted something physical and was incapable of commitment, even when the voice in my head said I used to want a relationship. That was then, and this was now. Everything had changed. I was smarter. I couldn’t go down that road again.
Natalie Anderson wasn’t the woman for me, no matter how many times I would run into her half-naked and soaking wet.
I ran a hand through my hair, knowing that was a lie. Nothing like that could happen again because there was zero chance I’d be able to resist her a second time. I was so screwed.
Next door, the water turned on. I imagined Natalie stepping into the steaming water. With blonde hair and those long legs, Natalie was a vision that would haunt me forever.
I gripped the kitchen counter, knowing I wouldn’t get any more work done tonight. Not when I wanted to walk through the door separating us, and into that tub with her. I was hard as nails, and I couldn’t do anything about it. I couldn’t take what I wanted from Natalie. It was a bad idea.
I needed to go home and escape Natalie’s scent and my overactive imagination. It would be a long time before I’d get the sight of her body out of my head. Determined to get some distance between me and whatever she was doing in that tub, I gathered my things.
I paused when I heard a moan; my heartbeat accelerated.
I grabbed my keys and rushed out of the house, not caring if tools were sitting out or if a light was left on. I needed to get out of there and away from the alluring woman who was quickly getting under my skin.
The cool night air instantly cleared my head. The engine of my truck roared to life, and I pulled away.
No more late nights. No more accidental run-ins with the B&B’s owner. I should have insisted that her living in South Carolina was best for everyone, even if it wasn’t. If I’d known how she would affect me, I never would have suggested renovating the owner’s suite.
It was infinitely harder working with her so close by. I found myself wondering what she was doing or if she’d show up unexpectedly.
I needed to talk to someone about this pesky attraction. Tyler, my middle brother, wouldn’t have good advice. He’d tell me to fuck her hard against the wall and that her kid was an excuse to have a no-strings relationship. Actually, that plan sounded good right now, so I drove to Sam’s. He was the voice of reason since he had a kid and was in a relationship with his former nanny, Alice. He’d tell me what to do.
I parked in Sam’s driveway, then got out and headed up the sidewalk before knocking on the door. I hoped that Maggie wasn’t sick or that they weren’t going at it. I needed to sort these crazy thoughts in my head.
“What are you doing here?” Sam opened the door, stepping back so I could enter.
Walking through the doorway, I asked, “It’s not a bad time, is it?”
“It’s a little too late to ask that, isn’t it?” Alice said, sidling up next to Sam. He placed an arm around her and kissed her temple. I’d never get used to seeing Sam so smitten with a woman. He’d sworn off women after he’d gotten Felicia pregnant, and she decided it was best that she move across the country for a job. But he was invested in his little girl, Maggie, and now, Alice. I’d never seen him happier.
“I need to talk to you,” I said to Sam, hoping Alice would get the hint. I was here for brotherly advice. I didn’t want to hear a woman’s opinion.
Alice smiled softly. “I’ll go read in bed.”
I wanted to say she didn’t need to leave, but I really wanted to talk to Sam in private.
“Want to sit outside?” Sam had built an amazing outdoor space for his house and recently convinced us to expand the company to offer outdoor living spaces. So far, it had been a popular add-on to our new builds and renovations.
“Sure.” I followed him through the house.
He grabbed two beers from the outdoor fridge and handed one to me. Outside, we sat on Adirondack chairs, facing the view of the mountains.
After we were quiet for a few seconds, Sam asked, “What’s going on?”
“I was working late at Natalie’s.” I sucked in a breath when I realized I’d referred to it as her place and not the B&B, which was what we’d called it since day one of the project.
Sam settled back into the cushions. “Doing what?”
“I was finishing up the tile in one of the upstairs bathrooms.” I didn’t want to admit I’d felt bad that the mistake with the floors had pushed back the time line. I knew money was tight for Natalie, and I wanted to help her in any way I could. I just hadn’t realized the reason until now. I was attracted to her. “Natalie used the kitchen faucet, but water spewed everywhere.”
“You turn it off and figure out what the problem was?” Sam asked, as if it wasn’t the single most defining moment of my life. The vision of her body was embedded in my brain.
I shifted in the chair, not wanting to admit my focus was on something else. “The issue seemed to be isolated to the kitchen faucet. I turned off the water to that sink. I figured I’d look at it tomorrow.”
Sam tipped back the bottle and took a long drag. When he lowered it, he set it on the thick arm of the chair and asked, “So, what’s the problem?”
I shifted again, not sure how to explain it. Maybe I shouldn’t have come. “It was—”
“Was Natalie upset?” Sam interrupted.
I shook my head. “What? No. It’s not that. She didn’t even mention it.”
“You’re telling me water flooded her new kitchen and she didn’t care?” Sam was paying attention now.
“I mean, there were other things going on that were more pressing.” Like the outline of her nipples and the silhouette of her body under that silky material.
“What other things could possibly be more pressing than a flooded kitchen? When something happens, you two go at it like—I don’t know what.” Sam shook his head.